Combination ruler and blotter.



H. J. TAYLOR. COMBINATION RULER AND BLOTTBR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 23.1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

NH Cums comma PLANOGRAPH CD WASHXNGTONI D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEI VRY J. TAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINATION BULEB AND BLOTTER.

Application filed January 2-3, 1912.

useful Improvements in Combination Rulers and Blotters, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined ruler and blotter, the blotter being removable for the purpose of replacing the same with a new blotter when the old blotter becomes worn. For the purpose mentioned, use is made of a body member having inclined sides and adapted to be engaged on the under side by a blotter strip, with the edges of the blotter strip extending over the inclined sides of the body memher and a ruler plate provided with inclined sides and adapted for slidable engagement with the body member so that the edges of the said blotter strip will lie between the inclined sides of the body member and the inclined sides of the ruler plate, thus rigidly retaining the blotter strip in engagement with the said body, the edges of the said ruler plate being arranged to form straight edges conveniently adapted for ruling purposes.

In the further disclosure of the inven tion, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the ruler plate partially re moved from the body member, which is arranged to form a container. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modified form of my device. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, illustrating the preferred form of my device, I employ a body member 10, formed of an in tegral piece of material and having inclined sides 11 and ends 12, arranged to form a container 13. A blotter strip 1 1 is mounted to extend along the under side of the body member 10 with the longitudinal edges of the blotter strip overlapping the inclined sides or edges 11 of the body member 10 and mounted for slidable engagement with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Serial No. 672,837.

body member 10 is a ruler plate 15 provided with downwardly extending inclined edges 16, the mentioned blotter strip 14 being so arranged upon the body member 10 that the longitudinal edges of the blotter strip will lie between the inclined edges 11 of the body member 10 and the inclined edges 16 of the ruler plate 15 thus rigidly retaining the blotter strip 1 1 in engagement with the body member.

The ruler plate 15 is preferably formed of an integral piece of material, bent to form a longitudinally extending handle 17 from which portions of the plate extend upwardly at an angle, their outer ends being curved to form the downwardly extending edges 16. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the ruler plate 15 not only acts as a means for retaining the blotter strip in engagement with the body member 10, but also acts as a cover for the container 13, in which suitable pens, stamps or other articles can be conveniently placed.

A straight edge 18, formed at the point of bending of one of the inclined edges 16 p of the ruler plate 15 can be conveniently employed to insure the ruling of straight lines and formed integrally with the lower end of the other inclined edge 16 of the ruler plate 15 is an outwardly projecting plate 19, having the outer edge thereof sharpened to form a cutting edge, a series of graduations being preferably provided on the plate 19 for the purpose of measuring off various distances, the cutting edge formed on the plate being adapted for cutting or tearing sheets of paper and the like.

Mounted to swing at one end of the ruler plate 15 is a paper cutting knife blade 20, the said knife blade being so arranged upon the ruler plate that when the knife blade 15 in open position a portion of the rear edge thereof will abut against the handle 17 so that the handle will form a stop member to limit the outward swinging movement of the knife edge, the mentioned knife edge when in closed position being adapted to he within the plane of the straight edge 18, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in my device is embodied a blotting element, a container and a ruler plate provided to form a cover for the container, a straight edge, a scale and a cutting edge, a knife blade being mounted to swing on the ruler plate and adapted to have its outward swinging movement limited by the handle of the ruler plate. When it is desired to provide a new blotter strip for my device, the ruler plate 15 is slidably disengaged from the body 10 and a new blotter can then be very easily placed in blotting position on the body 10 as will be readily understood.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I disclose a modified form f of my device, constructed upon the same principle as the device disclosed in Figs. 1 Q to 3 inclusive with the exception that minor f handle extending longitudinally to the said ducing a simple and effective combined blotter and ruler. The modified form of my dedetails are omitted for the purpose of prov-ice resides in a body 21 having inclined sides 22 and adapted to receive a blotter strip 23, the edges of which overlap the inclined edges 22 of the body .21. The body 21 is preferably made of a solid piece of material and mounted to slidably engage the same is a ruler plate 24, having inwardly extending inclined edges 25 arranged so that the blotter strip 23 will be interposed between the edges 22 of the body 21 and the inwardly inclined edges 25 of the ruler plate .24, thus retaining the blotter strip 23 in engagement with the blotter. By inclining the edges 25 inwardly, suitable ruling or straight edges .26 are provided and if desirable, suitable graduations 27 can be provided adjacent the straight edges 26, thus .greatly adding to the appearance of the device and producing a more practical article of manufacture.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a combined ruler and blotter comprising a body formed of a single piece of material having upwardly inclined sides forming a container and adapted to receive a blotter inclosing the said container, a ruler plate formed of a single piece of material bent to provide downwardly inclined sides and adapted to slidably receive the said body to form a cover for the container and secure the ends of the blotter between the inclined sides of the body and the inclined sides of the ruler plate, and a handle formed integrally with the ruler plate by striking upwardly a medial longitudinal portion thereof, the said plate and throughout its entire length.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a com bined ruler and blotter comprising a body formed of a single piece of material constituting a container and adapted to receive a blotter in closing the container, with the edges of the blotter projecting upwardly adjacent the sides of the container, a ruler plate formed of a single piece of material and adapted to slidably receive the said body to form a cover for the container, with the longitudinal edges of the blotter interposed between the sides of the said container and the said cover, a handle formed integrally with the ruler plate and extending longitudinally thereto, and an integral graduated plate projecting horizontally from one side of the said cover and extending longitudinally thereto throughout its entire length.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. TAYLOR.

Witnesses ARTHUR D. TURNER, A. C. LEAGUE.

(Zopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iate'nts, Washington, I). C." 

